Among the top 100 childcare centers statewide — a distinction earned by fewer than 1% of licensed centers across California.
Top 10 in San Diego
Ranked among the top 10 childcare centers in San Diego. Fewer than half of all centers in the city reach this level across our full 11-dimension scoring.
Best Infant Care
Earned the highest infant care score in San Diego. This dimension focuses on caregiver ratios, responsiveness, feeding and sleep routines, and parent feedback specific to infant rooms.
Full Ranking Detail
Infant CareToddler CarePreschoolInclusiveFull DayPart Day
Associated Students Child Care Center at SDSU on the university campus in San Diego is a NAEYC-accredited facility serving infants through preschool-age children with a distinctive model: the same teachers advance with each cohort over five years, creating deep continuity of care. Drawing on Reggio Emilia, Montessori, Piaget, Vygotsky, and Erikson, the center emphasizes child-initiated, project-based exploration supported by trained companions and mentors in a play-based environment. Full inclusion welcomes children with and without disabilities, and the university affiliation provides ongoing access to child development research and resources. Priority enrollment for SDSU students and staff may limit availability for community families, and prospective parents should verify current enrollment policies and parent feedback directly before committing.
Safety7.0
Curriculum8.0
Art / Music7.0
Infant care7.0
Kindergarten readiness7.0
Teacher quality8.0
Compassion8.0
Management7.0
Culture8.0
Extracurriculars7.0
Programs & curriculum
Curriculum & approach: Child-centered, play-based learning focused on developing the whole child, supporting physical, social, emotional and intellectual growth. Staff describe themselves as companions and mentors facilitating children's exploration, learning, and creative expression.
Programs & activities: Play-based learning and exploration, an art program called "A is for Art," and various planned developmental activities.
What sets it apart: NAEYC accredited. Associated Students quality program designation. Licensed facility (license numbers 370805130 and 370805244). Equal opportunity provider and employer. Nutrition information and fees links referenced.
Recognition of Excellence — Website Badge
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Top 100 in California
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Associated Students Child Care Center (SDSU) -->
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<img src="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/badges/rank-100-state.jpg" alt="Top 100 in California - Associated Students Child Care Center (SDSU) - San Diego, CA" width="80" height="80" style="border-radius:8px;flex-shrink:0;" loading="lazy">
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<strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">Top 100 in California</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Among the top 100 childcare centers statewide — a distinction earned by fewer than 1% of licensed centers across California.</span>
</span>
</a>
Top 10 in San Diego
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Associated Students Child Care Center (SDSU) -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/san-diego/san-diego/associated-students-child-care-center-sdsu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="display:flex;align-items:flex-start;gap:16px;padding:18px;background:#FFFBF0;border:1px solid #EDD97A;border-radius:10px;max-width:420px;text-decoration:none;color:inherit;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,'Segoe UI',Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">
<img src="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/badges/rank-10-city.jpg" alt="Top 10 in San Diego - Associated Students Child Care Center (SDSU) - San Diego, CA" width="80" height="80" style="border-radius:8px;flex-shrink:0;" loading="lazy">
<span>
<strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">Top 10 in San Diego</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Ranked among the top 10 childcare centers in San Diego. Fewer than half of all centers in the city reach this level across our full 11-dimension scoring.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best Infant Care
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Associated Students Child Care Center (SDSU) -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/california/san-diego/san-diego/associated-students-child-care-center-sdsu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="display:flex;align-items:flex-start;gap:16px;padding:18px;background:#FFFBF0;border:1px solid #EDD97A;border-radius:10px;max-width:420px;text-decoration:none;color:inherit;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,'Segoe UI',Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">
<img src="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/badges/dim-infant.jpg" alt="Best Infant Care - Associated Students Child Care Center (SDSU) - San Diego, CA" width="80" height="80" style="border-radius:8px;flex-shrink:0;" loading="lazy">
<span>
<strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">Best Infant Care</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest infant care score in San Diego. This dimension focuses on caregiver ratios, responsiveness, feeding and sleep routines, and parent feedback specific to infant rooms.</span>
</span>
</a>
This recognition is awarded independently by Creative Minds Montessori based on publicly available parent reviews and public records. Centers do not pay for or request these rankings. Scores reflect editorial synthesis of verified parent experience — not center marketing materials. Rankings are updated periodically as new reviews are analyzed.
